Key facts
- Californios restaurant in San Francisco has received its third Michelin star.
- This is the first time a Mexican restaurant globally has achieved this distinction.
- Chef Val Cantú views the award as validation for elevated Mexican cuisine.
- The restaurant blends Mexican culture with California ingredients.
- Michelin inspectors praised the restaurant's precise execution and Mexican identity.
San Francisco's Californios has achieved a historic milestone by earning its third Michelin star, making it the first Mexican restaurant worldwide to receive this prestigious culinary honor. Chef and co-owner Val Cantú expressed that the accolade validates the potential for elevated Mexican cuisine and has instilled a new confidence in his 40-person team.
Californios, which opened in 2015, received its first star that same year and a second in 2018. Michelin inspectors noted the restaurant's ability to "cross borders" on the plate, consistently executing dishes with precision and refinement while maintaining a distinct Mexican identity. Dishes like a sope topped with caviar and a matsukasa yaki fish taco were highlighted.
The achievement comes at a time when Mexican cuisine is gaining broader recognition, a development food writer Gustavo Arellano believes helps humanize immigration debates. Cantú, while not seeking to politicize his food, acknowledges the vital role immigrants play in the restaurant industry and has supported immigrant causes.
Cantú, inspired by his upbringing in Texas and his culinary experiences, aims to elevate Mexican cuisine, which he feels is often stereotyped as inexpensive. He is working on a cookbook to further promote his vision of Mexican-California fine dining.